System and method for restricting access to an enterprise network

• US 20060026686A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Trueba, Luis Ruben Zapien
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/577 Assessing vulnerabilities and evaluating computer system security
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a method for restricting access to an enterprise network that includes determining whether a computer that may be connected to an enterprise network on a temporary basis has one or more malicious code items where the computer accompanies a visitor to a facility associated with the enterprise network. An indication is provided to a human if it is determined that the computer has one or more malicious code items.

Claims

1. A method for restricting access to an enterprise network, comprising:

determining whether a computer that may be connected to an enterprise network on a temporary basis has one or more malicious code items, the computer accompanying a visitor to a facility associated with the enterprise network; and

providing an indication to a human if it is determined that the computer has one or more malicious code items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the computer has one or more malicious code items comprises performing a scan of one or more files or systems on the computer to identify a virus, worm, or other malicious code item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether code associated with one or more programs running on the computer is of a preferred version; and

applying a patch to the code if it is determined that the code is not the preferred version, the patch applied to replace a portion of the code.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving version information associated with the code from the computer; and

comparing the version information to information associated with the preferred version.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the code comprises an antivirus software application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication path between the computer and a security verification station associated with the enterprise network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the security verification station is located in the facility associated with the enterprise network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the security verification station comprises a stand-alone device that is isolated from the enterprise network.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the security verification station comprises a kiosk located in the facility associated with the enterprise network.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein establishing a communication path between the computer and the security verification station comprises coupling a port of the security verification station to a port of the computer.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein establishing a communication path between the computer and the security verification station comprises establishing a wireless communication path between the computer and the security verification station.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating an identifier with the computer, the identifier indicating whether or not the determining step identified one or more malicious code items;

communicating the identifier from the security verification station to the enterprise network over a communication path; and

storing the identifier in a database associated with the enterprise network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a digital certificate to the computer, the digital certificate indicating whether or not the determining step identified one or more malicious code items.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating to a user that the computer is corrupted if the determining step identified one or more malicious code items.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing a label to adhere to the computer to identify the computer as having passed an inspection for malicious code items.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing a label to adhere to the computer to identify the computer as having failed an inspection for malicious code items.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adhering the label to a port of the computer to make it more difficult to access the enterprise network using the computer.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a lock on a port of the computer to make it more difficult to access the enterprise network using the computer.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a remedial measure to the computer if the determining step identified one or more malicious code items.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein applying the remedial measure comprises removing a file associated with a malicious code from the computer.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving payment information from a user associated with the computer before applying the remedial measure.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a security practices assessment to determine whether the computer is vulnerable to one or more malicious code items.

23. A system for restricting access to an enterprise network, comprising:

an enterprise network; and

a security verification station associated with the enterprise network, the security verification station at least partially isolated from the enterprise network and operable to;

determine whether a computer that may be connected to the enterprise network on a temporary basis has one or more malicious code items, the computer accompanying a visitor to a facility associated with the enterprise network; and

provide an indication to a human if it is determined that the computer has one or more malicious code items.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is operable to perform a scan of one or more files or systems on the computer to identify a virus, worm, or other malicious code item.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is operable to:

determine whether code associated with one or more programs running on the computer is a preferred version; and

apply a patch to the code if it is determined that the code is not the preferred version, the patch applied to replace a portion of the code.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the security verification station is further operable to:

receive version information associated with the code from the computer; and

compare the version information to information associated with the preferred version.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the code comprises an antivirus software application.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is operable to establish a communication path between the computer and a security verification station associated with the enterprise network.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the security verification station is located in the facility associated with the enterprise network.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the security verification station comprises a stand-alone device that is isolated from the enterprise network.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the security verification station comprises a kiosk located in the facility associated with the enterprise network.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein a port of the security verification station is operable to couple to a port of the computer to establish a communication path between the computer and the security verification station.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the security verification station is operable to establish a wireless communication path between the computer and the security verification station.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to:

associate an identifier with the computer, the identifier indicating whether or not the security verification station determined that the computer has one or more malicious code items;

communicate the identifier from the security verification station to the enterprise network over a communication path; and

store the identifier in a database associated with the enterprise network.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to provide a digital certificate to the computer, the digital certificate indicating whether or not the security verification station determined that the computer has one or more malicious code items.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to indicate to a user that the computer is corrupted if the security verification station determined that the computer has one or more malicious codes.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to print a label to adhere to the computer to identify the computer as having passed an inspection for malicious code items.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to print a label to adhere to the computer to identify the computer as having failed an inspection for malicious code items.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the label is adapted to be adhered to a port of the computer to make it more difficult to access the enterprise network using the computer.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to place a lock on a port of the computer to make it more difficult to access the enterprise network using the computer.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to apply a remedial measure to the computer if the security verification station determined that the computer has one or more malicious code items.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein, when applying the remedial measure, the security verification station is further operable to remove a file associated with a malicious code from the computer.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the security verification station is further operable to receive payment information from a user associated with the computer before applying the remedial measure.

44. The system of claim 23, wherein the security verification station is further operable to perform a security practices assessment to determine whether the computer is vulnerable to one or more malicious code items.